Index and trial-balance.



No. 67mm.4 Patented Apr. 2, 190|. Ad TEMPLETGN. INDEX AND TRIAL BALANCE.

(Application tiled Oct. 2S, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Shasta-Sheet l.

n (lum. 50M

\ ,-:fM-q-i- SmoKS. Geo. l

"mi: Nomls mms nu. momlmo, WASHINGTON. u c.

f' No. s7l,o971. Y Patented Apr. 2, lsol.

' A. TEMPLETom INDEX AND TRIAL BALANCE;-

(Applicatioimea occ. 2s, 1900.

(Nu Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

STATES N TFE ALLISON TEMPLETON, OF CORSICANA, TEXAS.

INDEX AND TRIAL-BALANCE.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 671,097, dated.Ap112, 1901.

Application filed October 23, 1900. Serial No. 34,021- (No model.)`

To all whom t may concern;

Be it known that I, ALLIsoN TEMPLETON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Corsicana, county of Navarro,and State of Texas, haveinvented a certain new and useful lmprovement in Indexes andTrial-Balances, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in indexes andtrial-balances, and is designed more especially for card-index andloose-leaf ledgers.

One object of my invention is to provide a trial-balance and index whichwill be composed of a number of loose leaves adapted to be bound betweensuitable covers, each one of the leaves having vertical guideways formedthereon which are adapted to guide and hold spring-strips which can besprung in the guideways or removed therefrom very easily and when in theguideways can be slid np and down vertically. Each one of thesespring-strips has retaining devices formed thereon which are adapted tohold in each strip two slips of paper, the longer slip to contain thename of the individual or iirm having accounts and on the shorter slipare put ltheir daily balances, the credit in black ink and the debitbalances in red ink. These short slips having the balances on are to beremoved and new ones inserted wherever the account changes. The totalsare to be placed on the lower slip of each page. When an aocount isclosed, the holder or spring-strip is removed entirely, and when a newaccount is added the holder is put in its proper alphabetical order.

A further object of my invention is to provide in the binding of theleaves means whereby the leaves can be pushed upward, the bottom leafbeing stationary, and each one from there up to the top leaf can bepushed the distance equal to the width of one of the spring-stripsfarther than the one just below it, so that it will make the totals atthe bottom of each page all in sight at the same time, so that they canbe readily added up.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecitically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in Which- Figurel represents a cross-section of my invention, showing three leaves. Fig.2 isa sectional plan taken on the line oc cof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection taken on the line /y y of Fig. 2; Fig. 4L, a cross-section ofthe guideway adapt-ed to hold the spring-metal strips, showing one ofthe strips sprung into position; Fig. 5, a sectional plan similar toFig. 2, showing the leaves pushed up so as to bring the totals all insight. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the spring-metal holder or strip,showing one of the paper slips about to be placed in position. Fig. 7 isa perspective view of the paper slip adapted to contain the names, andFig. S a perspective View of the paper slip adapted to contain thefigures.

A represents the loose leaves, which are adapted to be bound between thecovers B and C by means hereinafter described. These leaves have theusual weakened portions D therein to facilitate the bending of theleaves while being turned.

E is a metal plate having upon each side the overturned lips e, whichwill thereby form a guideway for the spring-strips F. This metal plate Eis secured to the leaf A by any suitable means, here shown as havingretaining-pieces E punched out of the metal piece and bent down so as topass through the leaf A and then bent over so as to retain the metalplate E in close contact with the leaf A. The spring-strips F are madeof spring materialsuch as metal, celluloid, silicate, or thelikeand inpunching these strips out extensions are left upon each side of thespring-strips. These extensions are then bent upward and slightly over,so as to form retaining-lips f, f, and f2.

Grepresents paper slips, which are notched at g upon each corner. Thesenotches are for the purpose of allowing one end of the slip G to beslipped beneath the retaining-lipsf and the other end to be slippedbeneath a portion of the retaining-lips f.

H represents a paper slip having notches 7L formed in its corners, oneend of which is adapted to be slipped beneath a portion of the IOOretaining-lips f', the other end adapted to be slipped beneath theretaining-lips f2. By reason of the notches in these paper slips thiswill allow the edges of the slips, both G and H, to come in contact withits neighbor. lf desired, the ends of the spring strip or holder F canbe bent over, as illustrated at F', and this bent-over portion isadapted to fit beneath the lips e upon the lnetal plate E. The names ofthe individuals or firms holding accounts are adapted to be placed uponthe paper slip G and their balances adapted to be placed upon the paperslips H. These names are supposed to be arranged alphabetically from thetop of the page down. These spring-strips F can slide vertically withinthe guideways formed by the lips e, and the purpose of the sliding ofthese strips is that, for instance, in Fig. 2 we will suppose thatRoberts d: Companys account was closed and there was an account openedwith a firm whose name commenced with G, the spring-holder havingRoberts & Company thereon would be removed, and all the holders frombelow the slip having Ford Brothers thereon would be slipped downwardand new sli-ps containing the name of the new firm would be placed onthe holder that was removed, and this holder would be placed in thevacant space left by sliding down the aforesaid holders, and thus the Gwould be in its proper place between the F and J. Upon the bottom slipor holder of each page is placed the totals for that page. If there werea number of leaves in the book and the leaves were bound in the usualmanner as they are now, the total from each page would have to be setdown separately and then all added together. To overcome thisdisadvantage, I secure in the lower cover B posts I. These posts passupward through slots J, formed in the leaves A, and pass through theholes formed in the upper cover C. Into the upper end of this post arescrewed the buttons K, which have iianges k, which are larger than theposts and overlap the cover, so as to prevent the removal of the same.If desired, means can be employed for locking this cover C upon the postby the usual key and lock. (Not here shown.) The slots J, formedthroughthe binding end of the leaves A, are of different lengths-thatis, the lower leaf has simply a round hole about the size of the post,and this leaf remains stationary. The next leaf above will have a slotto allow that leaf to slide the distance of one of the spring strips orholders F upward. The next leaf above will have a slot long enough toallow that leaf to slide a distance equal to the width of two of thespring-strips F upward, and so ou. Thus it will be seen that when it isdesired to add up the totals upon each page the leaves are all pushed upas far as they will go, and this will leave the bottom strip of eachpage visible, when the different totals can be added veryconveniently.

To remove either of the paper slips from any of the holders, it issimply necessary to insert a knife-blade beneath the slip and so raiseit. To remove the spring-holders, you can insert a knife-blade or theiinger-nail beneath one of the retaining-lips f and so raise this.

The spring-strips F, if desired, can be made of celluloid, silicate, orthe like, and need not have the retaining-lips f and f2 thereon; but thenames and accounts can be written in pencil upon the spring-strip Fitself, and when desired to change the account or to alter the balancecan be easily erased and other writing substituted, or, if desired, thespringstrips F can have the retaining-lips f and f2 the same as shown,and, instead of paper, cel'lnloid or like material can be used for theslips G and H and the names written thereon in pencil and erased, asdesired, or the long` slip G, containing the names, can be made of'paper and the account-slip H can be made of Celluloid or the like andthe accounts written in pencil, so as to be erased when desired. WhenCelluloid, silicate, or the like is used for the slips, the writingwould have to be done in'pencil, and then we could not designate thecredit and debit by the use of red ink. In this case we would make theportion containing the figures longer, so as to rule it for two columns,one being used for the debit and the other for the credit balance.

In the drawings I have only represented three leaves and only a fewnames upon each leaf, so as to prevent too much repetition; but it isobvious that any number of leaves could be used, and the leaves may belong enough to accommodate any number of slips, although the mostpractical form for a book would be, probably, ten leaves containingfifty strips, thus allowing for five hundred accounts to a book.

My index and trial-balance is adapted as Well to the old systems ofbookkeeping as to the loose-leaf and card systems; but for the lattersystems it furnishes the only practical means of obtaining an index andtrial-balance in one.

It is obvious that this invention may be used for other purposes thanthe one herein mentioned, such as room-records for hotels, pay-rolls,dac.

The principal advantage of my invention is in a construction and methodby which all the accounts can be at all times kept in perfectalphabetical Yorder easily, regardless of how often the accounts change,old accounts closed, or new ones are opened, and at the same time alwaysshow the exact balance of every account daily and a daily trial-balanceof the entire ledger.

A further advantage of my invention is the convenience and saving oftime which is made possible by reason of my device for bringing thetotals of each page all in view at once. This also reduces the chancesof mistakes, as

IOO

IIO

it is well known in bookkeeping that every time you have to rewrite anumber you increase the chances of a mistake.

Another advantage of my invention is that in constructing thespring-strips as I do, either when they contain paper slips or theaccounts are written directly upon the spring-strips themselves, theywill 'present an unbroken line of iigures to View, as the strips willcome close together without anything intervening between said strips toconfuse the sight. It would, in fact, be nearly the same as if thefigures were set down upon an undivided sheet of paper and can be addedup just as readily.

The main feature of my invention is the fact that the names and accountsare adjusted as to location on the page and are easily moved in order toat all times maintain alphabetical arrangement.

Of course I do not wish to belimited to theL exact construction hereshown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulisl. In an index and trialbalance, loose leaves adapted to be held inasuitable binder, guideways formed upon the surfaces of said leaves,removable spring-strips adapted to be held and guided in said guideways,two slips, upon one of which the names are adapted to be written, andupon the other the accounts, said slips adapted to be removably securedand carried by said spring-strips, and means which will allow the leavesto be pushed upward and stop the leaves at the proper point so as tobring the bottom strips of each page all in view at once, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. In an index and trialbalance,` loose leaves adapted to be held in asuitable binder, gnideways formed upon the surface of said leaves,removable spring-strips adapted to be held and guided in said guideways,means which will allow the leaves to be pushed upward and stop the saidleaves at the proper point so as to bring the bottom strips of each pageall in View at once, substantially as and for the purpose specified. l

3. In an index and trial-balance, loose leaves guideways runninglengthwise of said leaves and secured thereto, spring-strips adapted tobe guided in said guideways and to be sprung into and removed from saidguideways, retaining-lips formed on each of the springstrips, slipsadapted to be inserted beneath these retaining-lips and held thereby,two covers adapted to protect these leaves, posts secured in one coverand adapted to pass through the leaves and be secured in the oppositecover,slots formed in the leaves through which the posts are adapted topass, lthe slots through each leaf from the bottom upward to be longerthan the one below it so as to allow the leaves to be pushed upward tobring the bottom strip of each leat all in View at once, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

4. In an index and trial-balance, a loose leaf adapted to be held in asuitable binding, guideways running lengthwise of the leaf and securedthereto, removable spring-strips, vadapted to be held and to be slid insaid guideways, overturned retaininglips formed in pairs upon each endof the spring-strip, overturned retaining-lips formed upon each strip inpairs at a point intermediate between the two ends, slips adapted tocontain the name of firms or individuals, notches formed in each cornerof said slips, said slips adapted to be inserted beneath theretaining-lips upon one end of the spring-strip, and beneath theretaining-lips formed upon the spring-strip between the two ends,- paperslips adapted to contain the accounts having notches formed in eachcorner thereof, one end of which is adapted to be inserted beneath theretaininglips upon the other end of the metal strips, and the other endof this paper slip adapted to be inserted beneath the retaining-lipsbetween the two ends of the spring-strip, the edges of these paper slipsadapted to come flush with the edges of the spring-strips so that eachpaper slip will come in contact with its neighbor, substantially as andfor the purpose specified.

5. In an index and trial-balance, a series of loose leaves adapted tocontain the names and accounts, two covers adapted to protect theseleaves, posts secured in one of these covers adapted to pass through thesaid leaves and have the opposite cover removably secured thereto, slotsformed in the said leaves through which the posts are adapted to pass,the slots to be formed in such a manner and of such a length that whenthe leaves are pushed upward as far as they will go the totals on thebottom of each page will be all visible at once, substantially asdescribed and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALLIsoN TEMPLETON.

Witnesses HAROLD TALLEY, FRED FLEMINe.

IOO

IIO

